About Us
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What is Rock Church's affiliation?
Rock Presbyterian is a Parish of the Mid-Atlantic presbytery of the
Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
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Where is Rock Presbyterian Church?
Please see our
Contact Us page for details.
- What is the worship service like?
Our Sunday morning worship is traditional, reformed worship with a taste for historic reformation psalms and hymnody. Our worship liturgy reflects the worship of the Church of Scotland-- a middle road between Anglican and Baptist. The order of service is printed in the bulletin. The services typically are no more than an hour and begin with the sounding of the bells at 11:00 AM. Please dress as you feel comfortable.
As an aid to our worship experience, we observe the Christian Year as a means of reflection on the Life of Christ and the life of discipleship.
At Rock Church, we believe Sunday Morning worship is not about us-- it is about God. We come to renew our covenant with the Holy Trinity and this liturgy follows a specific order. It is our belief that when we gather for worship on Sunday, the new Sabbath, the Trinity calls us to Heaven for worship ("Call to Worship"). In response, we come to Christ in adoration, song, and confession ("Confession"); we are consecrated by Christ in the preaching of the Word and we offer our tithes in response and confess our faith anew ("Condecration"); after our confession, we meet at His Table for spiritual nourishment ("Communion"). In the benediction, we are sent out to disciple the nations ("Commission").
Please visit out worship
page for more details
- What is the basis of the Church's doctrine, belief and practice?
As a conservative Church, we believe the Bible to be the only infallible and inerrant source of authority in all matters of faith, godliness, facts and truth. Our church confesses the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed and subscribes to the Westminster Confession of Faith (1903) and Catechisms as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Bible. Equally, Rock Church affirms the "Essentials" statement by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church as a summary statement of Confessional and Evangelical doctrine.
- Are children allowed during the worship service?
We welcome children to the worship service so that they may observe their parents and model their worship; there is a nursery available for those children in infancy to 4 years-old.
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- What are the church's education and fellowship opportunities for the family?
We offer regular Sunday School at 10:00 on Sunday Mornings, as well a Wednesday night Bible study time for Christian Education. We have men's and women's ministry opportunities in our
Men of Rock and Women in Ministry. We also have "Quarterly
Sunday Breakfast" at 9:00 AM in the Fellowship Hall.
The WIM host a "Back to School Bash" for the students
returning to school in the Fall; in addition, there is our annual Fall
Fling in October, as well as our Reformation Sunday evening fellowship,
as we view the Luther film. We have a Thanksgiving Luncheon and a
Christmas Cantata in December as well as our annual Candlelight
Communion service before Christmas. As noted elsewhere, we prepare for
Holy Week in the Spring by observing Lent and look forward to our Easter
Sunrise vigil at the end of Holy Week commemorating our Lord's
resurrection. Please see our
Ministry Page for greater details.
- How often does the church celebrate the Eucharist (Lord's Supper) and who may participate?
We observe the Lord's Supper the first Sunday of the Month. All baptized Christians are welcome to the Lord's Table. Rock Church leaves the responsibility of children coming to the table to the heads of household.
- What is Rock Presbyterian's practice regarding baptism?
We practice adult baptisms upon their profession of faith; this does not make them members of our church. Equally, we believe that the children of believing adults should be baptized. Rock church normally practices "sprinkling" but we will try to accommodate the needs of those being baptized. Please call the church office
(864.229.4222) if you are interested in scheduling a baptism.
- How does one join Rock Presbyterian Church?
If you or your family are interested in becoming members at Rock Church, please contact the church and the Minister will be in touch. We ask that you and/or your family meet with the session of the church and give testimony to your faith in Jesus Christ and provide for us information on your family's church experience. If you are new to the reformed wing of the church, it may be necessary to meet with the pastor to go over the basics of our confession; equally, the children may meet with the minister for communicants/ confirmation class to go through the basics of the Christian and reformed faith at an age appropriate level. A person(s)
may join by profession of faith, baptism or by letter transfer from another church, upon approval by the Session.
You may download the church
membership form here. |
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What is a "Presbyterian" Church?
 St. Ninian brought Christianity to Scotland in the 4th century; Patrick Hamilton worked to make Scotland Protestant in the 16th century, but was martyred. During the Reformation, in his Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin formulated reformed theology and the Presbyterian form of church government. In 1560, John Knox, a student of Calvin, adapted Presbyterianism for the Kirk (Church) of Scotland. "Presbyterian" churches are governed by presbuteroi -- elders: a teaching elder (pastor) and ruling elders, elected by the congregation and served by elected deacons. The scriptural titles "pastor/ shepherd, teacher, bishop/ overseer, presbyter/ elder" simply denote different functions of the same office.
Presbyterian churches are part of regional presbyteries composed of ordained ministers of local parishes in the presbytery. Presbyterian churches confess the Westminster Confession of Faith and catechisms (1647) by Scottish Presbyterians, English Independents and Puritans as the system of doctrine given in the Bible. The WCF emphasizes God's absolute sovereignty over all things; Humanity's total depravity in sin; a person's unconditional election by God; Christ's substitutionary death for His people; God's irresistible grace in salvation and the final perseverance of God's elect people to a glorious end of history. |
What is a "Reformed" Church?
Beginning with Martin Luther October 31, 1517 in Germany, and later by John Calvin, the Reformation began as a reforming movement within the Roman Catholic church and emphasized:
sola scriptura: Holy Scripture alone is the infallible standard of truth in all things.
sola gratia: human salvation is only by God’s grace to whomever God may choose, unearned by human actions, will or merit.
sola fide: the only means of salvation is faith, given to whomever God chooses.
solus christus: Christ, fully God and fully man is the only sufficient mediator between God and man.
soli deo gloria: all things exist for the glory of God alone.
The Reformed churches in their formation differed over church government, the nature and use of the Lord's Supper, and the nature, mode and administration of baptism. However, all churches historically descendent from the Roman Catholic Church initially affirmed the above five principles for what we consider as "Protestantism," and it must be remembered that the Reformers intent was not to split from the Mother Church, but to reform it from perceived un-Scriptural teachings. | |
